Prayer and Giving: UMCOR Supports Afghans in Need
For more than 40 years Afghanistan has been wracked by war, civil strife, invasion, and massive amounts of arms shipped in from outside forces. Millions of Afghans have been displaced as refugees over these many years. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, with high infant and maternal mortality rates.
Today the country is again at a point of transition with great uncertainty about the future. Thousands of Afghans are seeking to flee violence and a fear of persecution. Roland Fernandes, general secretary of Global Ministries and UMCOR, expressed his sympathy for the Afghan people, stating: “The situation in Afghanistan is uncertain and unfolding. It is a tragedy of epic proportions. We pray especially for all of those left behind who now live in fear and for the many communities across Afghanistan also facing extended drought and hunger.”
Global Ministries and UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief) have long-standing partners in Afghanistan, with projects and programs dating back to the mid-1960s. The work has been, and continues to be, in partnership with local Afghan communities, as well as with other humanitarian agencies concerned with health, community development, and human rights. UMCOR is working with these partners to determine what assistance is most helpful at this time and the best avenue for ensuring humanitarian relief reaches the country.
Through one project, UMCOR will provide cash assistance to displaced families residing in the Kabul area, enabling them to prioritize their most urgent needs such as food, shelter, or medicine.